The head of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has praised paramedics and denied a ‘major incident’ declared hours ahead of national industrial action was a “cynical attempt to break the strike”.

In an open letter to staff, NIAS Chief Executive Liam McIvor says he wants to “try and repair relationships”, which he admits have been strained in the run up to a national strike day on March 13 which saw thousands of public sector workers walk out.

The paramedics’ unions claimed there was no ‘major incident’ and it was a ploy to break the strike. An angry Unison chief Patricia McKeown told the strike day rally is Belfast the move made paramedics “very, very angry and you’ll live with the consequences”.

But in his letter, released today, Mr McIvor states: “I want to tell you in all honesty that the declaration of a major incident was not a cynical attempt to ‘break the strike’ but a sincere attempt to ensure that ambulance response was maintained for emergencies and clinically critical patients, throughout the planned day of action.

“The Trust recognises and accepts your right to ballot for and take industrial action. I acknowledge the importance and depth of feeling around the issues on which you were balloted for industrial action. While agreed outcomes have not been reached on any of those particular issues, I can assure you that we are committed to finding resolutions that will be both practical and sustainable.”

He said that after a series of meetings between management and workers it “soon became evident that the Trust would not have been able to provide safe patient care from midnight and there was no option but to declare a major incident”.

The Ambulance chief adds in his letter: “I am in no doubt that relations between staff and NIAS, and between trade union representatives and NIAS have been seriously tested and damaged by these events. I want to try and repair relationships and rebuild them so that we can continue to pursue the same aim of ensuring that patients who need the ambulance service receive the highest levels of clinical care.”

He said he wants to meet again with staff “to demonstrate in a practical way our recognition of your right to take, and support, industrial action while maintaining emergency ambulance services for those who need us most”.

He finshes by saying: “I would, in closing, like to re-iterate that the declaration of a major incident, due to the critical levels of cover rendering us unable to provide a safe service, was regrettably the only course of action open to us at the time.

“I applaud your professionalism in the manner in which you dealt with patients throughout the day despite your obvious displeasure at the decision.”

In relation to today’s communiqué from the Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, UNISON Ambulance Branch continue to believe that the declaration of a major incident was a pre-emptive move and therefore judged to be an attempt to undermine the strike action.

In a statement following the release of the open letter, UNISON NI said: "The Chief Executive has rightfully identified that industrial relations have been damaged, however, he has ignored the fact that he was informed of serious industrial relations issues in August 2014 following a vote of no confidence.

"A meeting with NIAS Management and UNISON has been arranged for Thursday 26 March 2015 when the entire content of his communiqué will be discussed, including items “which have been on the agenda for too long”. Shop stewards meeting today welcome the opportunity to have a full and frank discussion."